Polydextrose and energy intake at later meals
What it found
In people, eating polydextrose in a mid-morning snack was linked to eating less at lunch, and the effect grew with the dose.
It did not change how much people ate for the rest of the day or over the whole day.
What they found
Studies in people
Lunch intake
People who consumed polydextrose ate less at an unrestricted lunch. The effect was consistent across the six studies.
Dose matters
The more polydextrose people consumed, the greater the reduction in lunch energy intake. The relationship was strong.
Rest of day
There was no difference in how much people ate during the rest of the day after consuming polydextrose.
Daily intake
There was no difference in total daily energy intake. However, the authors' model suggested a dose-dependent reduction in daily intake.
Men and women
Results for men and women separately matched the results for the whole group.
What the authors conclude
“The studies included in this meta-analysis support the notion that the consumption of polydextrose reduces voluntary energy intake at a subsequent meal.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the studies support the idea that consuming polydextrose reduces voluntary energy intake at a later meal.
- They add that this reduction happens in a dose-dependent way.
How it was done
Dietary fibers help control energy intake and lower the risk of obesity. Recent studies suggest polydextrose reduces energy intake at a later meal, so the authors pooled the evidence.
They pooled studies where polydextrose was given as part of a mid-morning snack. Six studies looked at energy intake at an unrestricted lunch, and three looked at intake for the rest of the day and the whole day.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The studies measured energy intake at meals, not weight or body fat over time.
- The pooled studies were short and cannot show whether eating less at lunch leads to lasting changes in body weight.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- St Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, USA
The paper
- Title
- Effects of polydextrose on different levels of energy intake. A systematic review and meta-analysis
- Type
- Systematic review and meta-analysisThe authors follow a set, published method to find every relevant study, then combine the numbers from them into one result.
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Ibarra A, Astbury NM, Olli K, Alhoniemi E, Tiihonen K (2015). Effects of polydextrose on different levels of energy intake. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Appetite. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2014.12.099PubMed 25510531DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error